President Vahagn Khachatryan participated in a roundtable titled “The panorama of Armenia’s transport logistics,” hosted at the Armenian State University of Economics (ASUE), where the primary focus was the development of the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative and its fundamental requirements.
He stated that the implementation of the project requires institutional capacity, along with scientific analyses and accurate calculations, reports Armenpress.
The event focused on the current challenges in Armenia’s logistics system, its development potential, and avenues for improving transport infrastructure.
In his opening remarks, President Khachatryan emphasized the strategic timing of the discussion:
“One of the most debated topics today is Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace initiative. We introduced this concept two years ago, and at first, it was met with significant skepticism. However, over time, the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and our officials have consistently presented it at various international platforms. Since August 8, a new reality has emerged: the idea has materialized into a memorandum signed between Armenia and the United States.
To bring this concept to life, we need to establish institutions that can assess all our resources and capabilities. For Armenia to become a hub of peace, economy, and transport, we must develop scientifically grounded documents and calculations. Political decisions can only be made when backed by professional and scientific justification.”
He also called on the academic community to provide specific and measurable proposals:
“I would like to see the Amberd Research Center and other institutions deliver concrete results through data, models, and forecasts. This will assist the government and officials involved in negotiations with international partners to present clearer positions,” the president stressed.
ASUE Rector Armen Grigoryan noted in his remarks that since independence, Armenia has constantly faced the challenge of regional isolation.
“One of the key limiting factors for our economic potential has been transport isolation. We are grateful to the Security Council Secretariat for commissioning such a study to the Amberd Center. Today, we will present its preliminary findings aimed at identifying concrete ways to improve the logistics system,” he said.
During the discussion, experts from the Amberd Research Center presented three reports addressing the analysis of Armenia’s logistics system, econometric evaluations, and justifications for potential development paths.
The event concluded with a Q&A session where participants shared their opinions and suggestions. The roundtable was summarized by Rector Armen Grigoryan.
The government has developed and presented the Crossroads of Peace project, which focuses on enhancing communications between Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran. This includes the renovation, construction, and operation of roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and power lines. All infrastructure, including roads, railways, air routes, pipelines, cables, and power lines, will operate under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries they traverse.
